Regional Economic Intelligence Unit
Formerly known as the Chief Economist Unit (CEU) at Yorkshire Forward the REIU has been set up to support the economic intelligence and information needs of key partners. Operating from within Leeds City Council the units key objectives are to:
- Support the work of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPS) in Yorkshire and Humber by boosting their analytical capacity with regards to socio-economic data and its interpretation
- Work closely with local authorities in building, analysing, monitoring and evaluating their local economic areas from a macro economic perspective
- Support the economic appraisal of large investment projects and the planning and short listing of viable options and alternatives for development
- Provide bespoke and ad hoc economic advice and evidence to support specific programmes, projects and initiatives
- Improve the co-ordination of economic research at the regional level working with local partners to achieve efficiencies in the commissioning of economic research for Local enterprise Partnerships.
The REIU will combine its experience and expertise with the latest tools and models in order to tailor a service that fulfils the particular needs of our varied client groups and complements the existing economic research capabilities of public sector partners.
Discussions will take place with all LEPs and their constituent local authorities with a view to establishing an agreed work plan. The Unit has to be cost neutral to Leeds City Council and this means that a financial return will need to be generated for the work that we undertake. A “menu of services” has been developed which provides details of what we can offer and the likely cost. Please contact the REIU on the details below for further information.
Our Work
The REIU will seek to provide economic intelligence and forecasting support for our partners across the Yorkshire and Humber. Our work with partners will include:
- Economic Briefings – understanding our changing economy;
- Economic Forecasting – what will our economy look like in the future;
- Economic Project Appraisal – evidence-based investment decisions;
- Business Intelligence – sectoral performance, prospects and challenges;
- Skills and Labour Market Intelligence – nature of and challenges for the labour market;
- Impact Assessments – what impact will different interventions have;
- Specific Project Work – e.g. Rebalancing the Economy: The impact of public spending cuts;
- Commissioned research – managing the delivery of research projects.
Our work will make use of a number of existing resources some of which will require a subscription. These include:
- Regional Econometric Model – provides a breakdown of the structure of the regional and district economy with the ability to run scenarios and measure economic impacts. Existing subscribers can access the REM through this link: Regional Econometric Model URL (http://services.reiu.co.uk)
- Geographic Information System (GIS) – provides access to a range of socio-economic data that can then be used to produce detailed maps. Existing subscribers can access the GIS through this link:
- Acxiom Lifestyle Data – national lifestyle incorporating a range of socio-economic data that can be modelled and analysed down to a sub-district level.
- Yorkshire 50 – charts developments and economic change across Yorkshire’s top 50 listed companies.
- Jobs database – providing an up to date picture of job gains and losses across the region.
- Monthly Regional Economic Report – a monthly economic report that will incorporate the latest economic updates and the potential impacts on the regional economy.
The Team
Patrick Bowes (Chief Economist). Patrick has overall responsibility for the Unit. He is an economist and has extensive experience working with Treasury and BIS. Contact details: email - Patrick.Bowes@leeds.gov.uk, phone – 07891 278570
Felix Kumi-Ampofo (Economic Evidence Manager). Felix leads the Unit’s economic appraisal portfolio and as well as the skills and labour market analysis. Contact details: email - Felix.KumiAmpofo@leeds.gov.uk, phone – 07891 278555
Seamus McDonnell (Economics Manager). Seamus’ expertise lies in the economics of “place”. He is a renaissance expert with significant experience in regeneration. Contact details: email – Seamus.McDonnell@leeds.gov.uk, phone – 07891 271513
Yesrab Jumma (Research Analyst). Yesrab is a vastly experienced analyst and is an expert in tourism and the leisure economy. She also manages the Unit’s bespoke jobs database which tracks the changing dynamics of the jobs market. Contact details: email -Yesrab.Jumma@leeds.gov.uk, phone – 07891 275425
Lisa Littlefair (Research Manager). Lisa leads the team’s socio-demographic work. She is also an expert in the use and application of GIS. She is currently on maternity leave and should return in Summer 2012.